Berlin’s oldest queer club SchwuZ files for bankruptcy amid financial struggles

Berlin’s “oldest” queer club, SchwuZ, has filed for bankruptcy amid a troubling time for nightlife in the German capital, citing a “severe” financial situation.

The 50-year-old venue revealed the news on Instagram last week (July 31), explaining: “SchwuZ has filed for insolvency. One of the biggest queer clubs in Berlin, Germany — maybe even Europe — is on the brink.”

SchwuZ noted that it filed for bankruptcy “not because we’re already unable to pay, but because we soon would be,” adding that it now has to “pull the emergency brake”.

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According to German publication RBB, the club has suffered a deficit of €30,000 - €60,000 each month this year so far, and has also seen a slower rate of income.

SchwuZ said it has been forced to make redundancies, and also make both structural and programming changes, but “the financial situation is even more severe than we thought”.

“The insolvency proceedings buy us a little time,” they wrote. “But: We don’t want to give up! For nearly 50 years, SchwuZ has been more than just a club.”

“It’s a second living room. A place for queer art, community, family, resistance. Many of us have found what we were looking for here: a home, our chosen family, and freedom.”

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SchwuZ has now called on its fans for support by attending the club and sharing their post, writing: “Whether we can continue also depends on you.”

“Every single one of you counts,” they said. “Over 70 queer staff, hundreds of artists, thousands of guests. Show that SchwuZ is needed: Come by. Dance. Celebrate!”

SchwuZ first opened in Kreuzberg in 1977, and had a role in the launch of the Christopher Street Day parade – a pride event hosted annually. In 2013, SchwuZ moved to a 1,000-capacity space in Neukölln.

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Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter